Erythrocyte deformability monitor

Abstract

A method and device is provided for simply and rapidly measuring erythrocyte deformability by placing samples of blood on a set of porous membranes or a membrane strip with graded series of sharply defined pore sizes to determine the selective absorption thereon. Based on observation of the selective absorption on the membranes or membrane strip the deformability index of the erythrocytes may be determined.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for monitoring erythrocyte deformability comprising a plurality of membranes characterized by high density, straight-through, capillary-shaped pores, the mean pore size of each said membrane being in the range of about 0.50 microns and about 10 microns, each said membrane having a different nominal mean pore size from the others; each saud membrane having absorbent material in contact with one surface thereof. 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of each said membrane is from about 8 microns to about 12 microns and the surface to surface angular distribution of said pores within each said membrane is from 0° to about 30°. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said absorbent material is supported by a base member. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 3 further comprising a sealing member opposing and having points of adhesion to said base member thereby accommodating said membranes and absorbent material between said base material and said sealing member; said sealing member having a plurality of openings each corresponding to one of said membranes and each correspondingly exposing a substantial area of one of said membranes. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said mean pore size of each membrane is in the range of about 2 micron to about 8 microns. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5 comprising five membranes having mean pore sizes of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 microns, respectively. 
     
     
       7. A method for evaluating the deformability of human erythrocytes comprising the steps of placing a suspension containing erythrocytes on a plurality of membranes, each said membrane characterized by a high density of straight-through, capillary shaped pores, each said membrane having a mean pore size of from about 0.5 micron to about 10 microns, each said membrane having a different nominal mean pore size from the others, each said membrane having an absorbent material on the opposite surface thereof, and determining for each said membrane whether the erythrocytes in said suspension are either substantially passed through said membrane onto said absorbent material or substantially retained on the surface of each said membrane. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the thickness of each said membrane is from about 8 microns to about 12 microns and the surface to surface angular distribution of said pores within each said membrane is from 0° to about 30°. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said absorbent material is supported by a base member. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said mean pore size of each membrane is in the range of from about 1 micron to about 8 microns. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said suspension is placed on five membranes having mean pore sizes of 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8 microns, respectively.